Means for scoring ice by hydraulic and fluid pressure



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Oct. 8, 1929. R. H. ROARK MEANS FOR SCORING ICE BY HYDRAULIC AND FLUID PRESSURE Filed Nov. 1927 EFEEIFJM M v .1 g EA. .1. ,w

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MEANS FOR SCORING ICE BY HYDRAULIC AND FLUID PRESSURE Oct. 8, 1929.

Filed Nov. 7, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Get. 8, 1929. R. H. ROARK 1,731,175

MEANS FOR SCORING ICE BY HYDRAULIC AND FLUID PRESSURE I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 8, 1929 was STATES, PATENT OFFICE;

EoBEET n. EoAEK, 0F WACO, TExAs, ASSIGNOR To THE rER'EEc'TIon ICE soonrne v MACHINE COMPANY, OF WAGO, TEXAS MEANS FOR SCORING ICE BY HYDRAULIC AND FLUID PRESSURE Application filed November 7, 1927. Serial No. 231,721. 1

This invention relates to ice scoring machines and is an improvement over that type or class of ice scoring means and method covered by Patent No. 1,561,113 dated November 10, 1925 and granted to the applicant herein.

The primary object of the present invention is to improve the machine by the addition of certain new parts and the elimination.

of certain elements not required so as to make the machine capable of operation in moving the blocks of ice. into and through the machine by hydraulic power or fluid pressure. In the construction and arrangement of the machine herein described and illustrated the blocks of ice are received in a longitudinal position, moved by hydraulic power or fluid pressure between horizontal saws for scoring or making kerfs in the block from end to end or longitudinally of the ice block. Then the block is tilted by hydraulic power or fluid pressure in a vertical plane through an arc of substantially 90 degrees to cause it to. assume a vertlcal or upright on-end position.) The block is then moved by hy-.

draulic power or fluid pressure between horizontal saws, whereby the block is scored cross-' wise and del vered from the machine on a horizontal plane by the same power or pres-.

sure.

After a block of ice is scored in the above manner a plurality of units are thus defined and any desired number of the unitsmay be broken off by the retail dealer, the scoring not, only facilitating thedivision of the block.

is directed- Figure 2 is a plan view with parts shown in section,

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the machine,

Figure 4: is a horizontal section takenon the line 44t of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional detail view of one of the cylinders,

Figure 6 is a detail view of a chain,

V Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the delivery end of the machine.

Reference being had more particularly to the drawings,the machine as embodied in the patent heretofore referred to will be explained briefly in order to show the added parts in the construction of the improved machine. There is shown an elongated rectangular frame 10 which consists of any desired arrangement oflongitudinal and transverse main bars, and any desired number of up right or other auxiliary bars which may be found necessary to support the bearings and other elements of the mechanism. At the bottom of the frame 10 is a longitudinal track or floor 11 overwhich the blocks of ice A are guided while being scored. v

This floor extends from the entrance end 12 of the machine to a point approximately at the center of the machine and the block of ice lies on its side as it is conducted into the frame from any suitable conveyor or other means, not shown. p

Journaled in suitable bearings at one side. of the entrance end ofthe machine are vertical shafts 13-which carry gears .14, the lat.- ter being in mesh with bevel gears 15 carried on the shaft 16. On the latter shaft is mount ed a sprocket wheel 17, which by means of a chain 18 and motor 19 drives the saws 20 on the shafts 13. The motor also drives the rear saws 21 mounted on theshaftsq22, in

connection with the shaft 28, gears 24 and 25, chain 26 and sprocket 27 ,Located near the center of the machine'is an ice tilting cage 28, which has one side and one end open and is adapted to receive the successive blocks of ice after they leave the scoring saws 20 and to tilt the samethrough an angle of approximately 90 degrees andto deliver them to the scoringsaws 21 whereby they are scored at right angles to the first ice block A between the rotating saws 2O scoring. The tilting cage 28 is provided with (which score the block lengthwise) and thence trunnions 29 journaled in the sides of the' ainto the tilting cage 28, the ice block occupyframe. This ca e will be referred to herein- RD after 1n explanatlon of the improved method and means of operation thereof.

The preceding parts or the machine relate to its structure covered by the letters patent referred to. The additional mechanism which has been added for operating the machine by hydraulic power or fluid pressure will now be explained in detail in connection with the drawings which show the position and arrangement of the new parts.

A cross shaft 30 has been added to the framework, and is seated in the bearings 31. This shaft includes a sprocket gear 32 and to the shaft is attached an ice pusher bar 33, for moving a block of ice lengthwise into the machine and between the saws 20 in scoring the ice lengthwise or longitudinally, the block of ice being shown at A. To the periphery of the sprocket wheel 32 is attached a chain 34, the chain having its opposite end secured to a piston rod 35. The piston rod includes a piston reciprocable in a cylinder secured to the framework and under fluid pressure or hydraulic power serves to move the pusher bar to shove the ice between the saws 29. Connected on the cylinder 36 is a valve operable by means of a disk 3? in connection with a pull rod 39. This valve is arranged so that when in the position shown in the sketch, Figr is being admitted to the cylinder, and the normal position of the disk 37 would be to hold the ice pusher bar 33 in its highest position. This is due to a counter weight 4 which is secured to the sprocket wheel 32. An arm 41 is pivoted at 42 to the framework and includes a finger 42 which in the open position of the valve falls into a notch 43 in the disk 37 the counter weight then occupying the dotted line position shown in Figure 1. When the operator places a block of ice in the machine in the position shown ust within the entrance way 12, he pulls the operating handle on the rod 39, rotating disk 37 connected to the valve, until the finger 42 drops into theslot 43, hus opening the valve'and causing fluid pressure to pass from the pipe line 44 into the cylinder 36. This fluid pressure may be air, steam or other gas, water, oil or other liquid, and the pressure may be generated by a pump or compressor connected with the machine or it may be supplied from an independent source.

When fluid pressure is admitted to the cyl inder 36, it moves the piston in the direction shown by the arrow, rotating the sprocket wheel 32 by means of the chain 3 and moves the pusher bar 33 into the pcsi raising the counter-weight 40 line the dotted line positionshown in Figure 1.

This movement of the pusher bar moves the upon the spring 44 causes disk 37 to return to closed position, and cutting off pressure in the cylinder 36. This permits the counter-- weight 40 to return to its original position, thus raising the ice pusher bar 33 to its original and highest position.

When the ice block has been moved into the tilting cage 28 it is ready to be moved into a vertical position for scoring the block crosswise. This is brought about by means of a piston 45 of the same construction as that one indicated at 36a longitudinal sectional view of which is shown in Figure 5. The piston rod 46 of this cylinder is connected to a chain 47, the latter having connection to a sprocket wheel 48the sprocket wheel being rigidly attached to the axle or trunnion 29 of the tilting cage.

Fluid pressure admitted to the cylinder 45 is controlled by a valve of the same construction as valve 38 and including a similar disk 49, spring angular bar 51. These parts are shown also in Figure 7 The valve disk 49 has a projection 50 which has connection to the counterweight 40 by means of a chain 51 Now when the counterweight 40 moves to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, the chain 51 is tightened as indicated, by dotted lines 51, opening valve on disk 49 which is then held open by projection 51" engaging in notch 52 in the disk 49.

When the valve connected to the cylinder 45 opens, it admits fluid pressure into the lower end of the cylinder, moves-the piston rod 46 in the direction of the arrow, rotates wheel 48 by means of the chain 47, until the tilting cage assumes the position D, the ice block being in the position A, ready for scoring the block cross-w1se.

When the cage has assumed a vertical posi-' tion, a chain 52 attached to sprocket wheel 48 rotates disk 53 controlling the valve on a cylinder 54 from normal closed position shown in Figure 1 to open position, where it is held open by the finger 54 on arm 55 dropping into the notch 56 in the disk 53.

Opening the valve which controls fluida counterweight 60 assumes the dotted lineposition in Figure 1', strikes the projection 62 and throws the finger 54 out of the notch. The spring 63 then retracts the disk 53 and returns the valve to closed position, cutting ofl fluid pressure from the cylinder 54 and permitting the escape of pressure already therein. Y

The release of pressure from cylinder 54 permits the counterweight 60 to assume its normal position raising the'ice pusher bar to its highest position, ready to again start its cycle. I

It will be noted that when pressure is acting in cylinder to turn the cage to the position D, the valve controlled by the disk 49 is held open by the finger 51 engaging the notch in the disk, and when cage reaches the vertical position, the chain 62 '(connected to the finger 51 and sprocket wheel 48) pulls the finger from engagement with the notch and the spring returns valve to normal closed position.

When this valve closes, releasing fluid pressure from the cylinder 45, the weight of heavy side of the cage causes it to return to original position D, the cage being kept from falling violently by the cushioning effect of the piston in cylinder 45.

In Figure 5 is shown in longitudinal section the type of cylinder employed in the machine. This cylinder comprises a piston'rod with piston 70, lock nut 71, stuffing box nut 7 2 and piston rod packing 73. Fluid pressure enters the cylinder through pipe 44 entering port 74, the other end of the cylinder being open at the port to the atmosphere.

If oil, water or other liquid is used for supplying fluid pressure, a pipe may be connected at the opening 75 and led to any desired location to dispose of any liquid that might leak past piston 7 O.

The foregoing describes a machine which will move the ice blocks betweenthe saws in a longitudinal position to score them longitudinally, move the blocks from a horizontal position to a vertical position, and finally moving the blocks while in a vertical position through the saws to score the ice vertically and discharging them from the machine.

These three movements are all obtained by fluid pressure acting in the valves in connection with the mechanisms heretofore explained, and the direction of the ice is not changed, the movements all being accomplished in a positive manner, and the pressure being automatically controlled.

While the machine here shown portrays an embodiment of parts for moving the ice through the machine, the invention is not tobe understood as being restricted to the construction here shown but is capable of considerable modification which will cover the operation of moving the ice by fluid pressure means. 7 I

Whatis claimed is:

1. In an ice scoring machine, two sets of scoring means, fluid pressure means between said sets for tilting a block of ice in a vertical plane subsequentto its passage between one set of scoring means, and prior to its passage between the other set, means forv automatically supplying the fluid pressure to said fluid pressure means as soon as the block has passed the first set of scoring means, means for auto, matically releasing the fluid pressure as soon as the tilting operation is complete, and means for restoring the tilting means to position for operating upon another block of ice as soon as the fluid pressure is released.

2. In an ice scoring machine comprising two sets of horizontally disposed rotating saws, means for feeding a block of ice between one set of saws for scoring it horizontally, means for tilting the block from a horizontal to a vertical position, means for moving the block between the second set of saws for scoring it crosswise, the improvement which consists of fluid pressure mechanisms for actuating said block-feeding, block-tiltingv and block-moving mechanisms, means whereby the fluid pressure ice tilting mechanism operates automatically as soon as the initial ice scoring operation is completed, andmeans whereby the second fluid pressure feeding mechanism operates automatically as soon as the ice tilting operation is completed, and means for antomatically cutting off and releasing the fluid pressure from each said mechanism as soon as it has performed its respective function.

3. In an ice scoring machine, fluid pressure means for feeding a block of ice horizontally for scoring the ice block in one. direction, fluid pressure means for tilting the block in a vertical plane through an arc of substantially degrees, fluid pressure means for moving the block in the upright position for scoring the block crosswise, valves for controlling each of said fluid pressure means, means whereby the ice tilting means operates automatically as soon as the initial ice feeding operation is completed, and means whereby the secondary ice moving means operates automatically as soon as the ice tilting operation is completed, and means for automatically operating said valves to release the fluid pressure fromeach said fluid pressure means as soon as it has performed its respective function, and means for restoring said ice feeding, ice tilting and ice moving means to position for operating upon 7 another blockof ice as soon as the fluid pressure is released.

4. In an ice scoring machine having two sets of horizontally disposed scoring devices, fluid pressure means for feeding a block of ice between one set of scoring devices for scoring theice in one direction, manual means for admitting fluid pressure to said feeding means at the commencement of the feeding operation, and automatic means for releasing the pressure as soon as the first feeding and scoring operation is completed, fluid pressure means automatically operating to tilt said ice through an arc of substantially degrees to vertical position as soon as the first scoring operation is completed, and means for moving said ice in the new position between the second set of scoring means.

5. In an ice scoring machine comprising the combination with means for feeding a block of ice and scoring it in one direction, means for receiving the block oiice from said scoring means, means for tilting the block of ice so as to change it to a position substan tially at right angles to its first position, means for moving said block 01"- ice in its changed position in the same direction, and means for scoring said block in a direction at rightangles to the first scoring; the improvement which consists of fluid pressure mechanisms for actuating said preliminary ice feeding, ice tilting and secondary ice moving means, means whereby the fluid pressure ice tilting mechanism operates automatically as soon as the preliminary ice feeding operation is completed, and means whereby the secondary ice moving means operates automatically as soon as the ice tilting operation is completed, and means for automatically releasing the fluid pressure from each said mechanism as soon as it has performed its respective function.

6. In an ice scoring machine, means for moving a block of ice against saws for initially scoring the block in one direction, and automatically operating fluid pressure means for tilting the block as soon as the initial scoring operation is'completed, and means for automatically cutting oil and releasing the fiuid pressure as soon as the tilting operation is completed.

7. In an ice scoring machine, a fluid pressure device for tilting a block of ice, and a fluid pressure device for feeding the ice in its new position to scoring devices, said feeding device operating automatically as-soon as thetilting operation is completed, each of said fluid pressure means having automaticmeans for cutting off and releasing the fluid pre sure as soon as its respective function is performed.

8. In an ice scoring machine, means for moving a block of ice in contact withscoring means for initially scoring the ice in one direction, automatically operating fluid pressure means for tilting the block as soon as the ice scoring operation is completed, and means for automatically cutting off and releasingthe fluid pressure to permit the tilting means to return to its original position.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

ROBERT H. ROARK.

mate 

